Rail joint



July 13, 1948. RADEMAKER. 2,444,954

' I RAIL JOINT Filed Nov. 29, 1944 2 SheetS -Sheet 1 I II In Inventor g I [h Jul 13, 1948.

G. RADEMAKER RAIL JOINT Filed Nov. 29, 1944 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

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Inventor g ee/ 7e Pad'eymcer,

WWI/way fim Patented July 13, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,444,954 RAILJOINT George Rademaker, Chicago, Ill. Application November 29, 1944, Serial No. 565,684

6 Claims. 1

provided with means whereby the connection of adjacent sections of rail is effected without the provision of a low point or joint, as is conventional practice, thus obviating the greater effect of wear normally occasioned at such point.

Still another object is the provision of an improved rail joint so designed as to occasion less vibration and jolting, and consequently less wear and damage to the rolling stock of the line.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of such a joint which will be sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient in operation, and which may be manufactured and installed with a relative minimum of expense and difiiculty.

Still other objects reside of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one form of rail joint in accordance with the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Figure 2, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective detail view of a constructional element.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings, there is shown at It a plurality of ties, upon which are adapted to be mounted rails, portions of which are shown at H. Underlying the spaced extremities of adjacent rails Hare positioned the extremities of a. base plate I2 adapted to be secured to the ties H}, as by bolts or spikes l3.

Secured between and abutting the ends of rails II, and mounted on base [2, are a plurality of plates, such plates taking two forms, one form I4 in the combinations short plates, and the other form l5 comprising long plates. The arrangement is such that two of long plates I5 and two of short plates M are positioned in alternately spaced abutting relationship with each of rail ends H, and oppositely with respect to each other in such manner that oppositely disposed short and long plates are in aligned relationship.

Fish plates l8 are secured to the extremities of rails I I, as by bolts I9 and nuts 29, passed through suitable aligned bores in the rails and plates, and are also secured to the assembly adjacent the end of the rail comprised of the plates [4 and [5, similar bolts [9 and nuts 29 being passed through suitable aligned apertures through the component parts thereof. The nuts 20 are preferably of the lock nut type, and the bolts I9, if desired, may be passed through suitable sleeves 2| positioned within their associated bores.

As best shown in Figure 5, each of long plates I5 is provided with a plurality of transverse slots or'apertures 22 therethrough, through which are adapted to be passed sleeves 21a of a length substantially equal to the thickness of the four plates, bolts lQa passing through such sleeves and being held in position as by lock nuts 28a.

In the normal assembly of the rail joint, the ends of plates l5. are spaced from the adjacent ends of plates I4 in such manner as to provide gaps 23 therebetween, the gaps occurring adjacent opposite ends of the rail point, in alternate relation, in accordance with the previously described arrangement of the plates, and the dimensions of the gap left being adjusted in accordance with the surrounding temperature under the conditions of laying the rail.

Now, from the foregoing, it will be seen that the opposite plates I5 comprise, in effect, due to the nut and bolt construction previously described, & continuation of their associated rail I I, and that, when any. expansion or contraction in the rail occurs, the oppositely disposed gaps 23' will be varied accordingly, limited play between the adjacent plates l5 being permitted by the slots 22 and their associated nut and bolt connections.

As best shown in Figure 4, if desired, the inner of members l4 and I5 may be rectangular in cross section, and the outer members may be formed in conformity to the cross section of the ball of the rail, in such manner that the joint comprises in effect a continuation of the rail structure, forming, through the inter-engagement of plates IS, a continuous unbroken rail comprising when the rails were in contracted position.

From the foregoing, it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved expansion joint forlrails, :i-accomplishing=all the objects (of this invention and others; including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made of the embodiment;,herein before shown and described, it is tocbe .understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense;

I claim:

L-J-I'nicQmbin atiQn with apair oflaligned and longitudinally: spaced railshaving pairs of fish plates directlyv -connected thereto respectively, an-expansionjointcomprising a plurality of sets ofmertical :plates. positioned between the ends oradjacent rail extremities andbetween. said fish plates; .1 alternate ,plates abuttingnopposite :rail extremities and secured thereto by said fish plates; the other ends ofsaidvplates being spaced fromopposite rail extremities,- and. means holding-said plates. in longitudinallyslidable related assembly.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said means includes longitudinal slots in registerable position, in saidseplateshfland ibOltS extendin through saidslots.

3. A longitudinally expansible railjoint comprising a pair of aligned and spaced rails, a base plate underlyingtheacljacent extremities-of said 4 longitudinal, slidable engagement, vertical channels between the extremities of said rails and the ends of the parallel plates secured to the opposite rails, and drainage apertures in .said'base plate communicating with said channels.

4. An expansion joint for aligned and longitudinally spaced rails having pairs of fish plates directly connected thereto respectively, comprising a first set of parallel vertical plates abutting thei-extremityfofj said first rail. and having their upper and side surfaces forming plane continuations of the corresponding surfaces of said first s rail, means securing said set of plates between said fish plate and to said first rail, a second set of plates similarly secured to a second rail, means :efor, ::c1a-mping; said sets in longitudinally slidable relation,.said sets, of plates being composed of alternatelong'and short plates, the long'plates of rails, pairs of fish plates secured to. the outer sides of the adjacent end of each of said rails, sets or parallels-platessecured by and between and extending longitudinally beyond said pairs of fish plates, said sets of parallel platesabeing interdig-itated and having their. upper surface; forming a continuationof the balls of said rails, and means clarnping: said parallel plates together in e one-"set being longitudinally aligned with and spaced from the short plates of the other set.

5. The combination. of claim 4, eachof said plates having its sliding engagement with the adjacent plates of the zo-ppositezvset confined to vertical planes.

6. The combination of claim 4, whereinthe outer plates of each set have their lower. portions flared out into conformity with and seating engagement upon the foot, of said. rails.

GEORGE RADEMAKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file of this-patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date England 1903 Italy JunelO; 1935 Italy Aug. 6, 1938 Number Number 

